Unlocking the Potential of Fish to Improve Food and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Rodney T. Muringai, Paramu Mafongoya, Romano T. Lottering, Raymond Mugandani and Denver Naidoo
Additional contact information
Rodney T. Muringai: African Centre for Food Security (ACFS), School of Agriculture Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa
Paramu Mafongoya: Centre for Agriculture and Environmental Development, School of Agriculture Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa
Romano T. Lottering: Geography Department, School of Agricultural Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa
Raymond Mugandani: Department of Land and Water Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
Denver Naidoo: African Centre for Food Security (ACFS), School of Agriculture Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Approximately one-third of the global population suffering from chronic hunger are in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In addition to high prevalence of chronic hunger, millions of people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Meanwhile, there is growing consensus across scientific disciplines concurring that fish plays a crucial role in improving food and nutrition security. Therefore, the present review aims to demonstrate the role of fish and the whole fisheries sector towards securing food and nutrition security in SSA by summarizing the existing literature. Fish is a treasure store of animal protein and essential micronutrients such as zinc, iodine, calcium, and vitamins, which are essential in human nutrition and have proven to help reduce the risks of both malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. Policymakers, development agencies, and society should recognize the role that the fisheries sector can play in combatting hunger and undernutrition, especially for the poor and marginalized people in SSA.

Keywords: undernutrition; small indigenous species; fish nutrition; sustainable development goals (SDGs); sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/318/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/318/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:318-:d:713301

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().